Dental instrument for measuring a degree of tapering of a side wall of a tooth

ABSTRACT

A dental instrument configured to measure a degree of tapering of a side wall of a tooth is described. The dental instrument may include a handle and a taper measuring component coupled to a distal end of the handle. The taper measuring component includes a first, second, and third elongated member. A bottom surface may be formed at a coupling point of the second and third elongated member, where the second elongated member is configured to be substantially vertical when the bottom surface is placed adjacent to a tooth, and the third elongated member projecting radially from the second elongated member at a predefined angle. The third elongated member is shaped and positioned to rest substantially flush along the at least one side wall of the tooth when a degree of tapering of the tooth is substantially similar to the angle, and may include a measuring component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/570,829 entitled “DENTAL INSTRUMENT FORMEASURING A DEGREE OF TAPERING OF A SIDE WALL OF A TOOTH,” filed Oct.11, 2017, the contents of which being incorporated by reference in theirentirety herein.

BACKGROUND

Tooth measurement and crown preparation is a common procedure in generaldental practice and dental students are often required to demonstratecompetency in this procedure to graduate from dental school. Thetraining of these techniques is subjective, as a dentist or studentrelies upon an “eyeballing” of a crown preparation rather than relyingupon a definitive measure. Moreover, dental students are required topass taper criteria in the Manikin-based dental examination for crownpreparation, as the dental students are required to taper a tooth wallfrom nearly parallel to 12°. The dental student can be subject to afailing grade if the taper of the tooth wall is grossly over-reduced, orreduced to over 16°. Students and exam administrators do not have anobjective tool to measure a degree of the tapering of the side wall of atooth, often meaning that dental students are subject to a passing orfailing score based on a subjective opinion of the instructor. As such,a need exists to perform a more formal assessment of a tapering of aside wall of a tooth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments for a dental instrument configured to measure adegree of tapering of a side wall of a tooth are described. The dentalinstrument may include a handle and a taper measuring component coupledto a distal end of the handle. The tape measuring component may includea first elongated member, a second elongated member, and a thirdelongated member in some embodiments. The taper measuring componentincludes a bottom surface formed at a coupling point of the secondelongated member and the third elongated member, where the secondelongated member is configured to be substantially vertical when thebottom surface of the taper measuring component is placed adjacent tothe tooth such that the second elongated member is substantiallyparallel to a vertical (or longitudinal) axis of the tooth. The thirdelongated member may project radially from the second elongated memberat a predefined angle. The third elongated member is shaped andpositioned to rest substantially flush along the at least one side wallof the tooth in response to a degree of tapering of the tooth beingsubstantially similar to the predefined angle.

Moreover, a method for measuring a degree of tapering of a side wall ofa tooth is provided. The method may include, for example, providing adental instrument adapted to measure the degree of tapering of the sidewall of a prepared tooth, where the dental instrument includes a handleand a taper measuring component. The taper measuring component mayinclude, for instance, a first elongated member, a second elongatedmember, and a third elongated member. A bottom surface may be formed ata coupling point of the second elongated member and the third elongatedmember. The second elongated member may be configured to besubstantially vertical when the bottom surface of the taper measuringcomponent is placed adjacent to the tooth. The third elongated membermay project radially from the second elongated member at a predefinedangle. The method may further include positioning the taper measuringcomponent adjacent to the tooth using the handle and measuring thedegree of tapering of the side wall of the tooth based at least in parton whether the second elongated member rests substantially flush alongthe side wall of the prepared tooth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dental instrument configured tomeasure a degree of tapering of a side wall of a tooth according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enhanced perspective view of a taper measuring component,or a tip of a dental instrument, configured to measure a degree oftapering of a side wall of a tooth is shown according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating acceptable and marginally substandardtapers of a side wall of a tooth according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tooth illustrating a degree of taperof a side wall of the tooth according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating various degrees ideal for measuring ataper of a side wall of at tooth according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dental instrument measuring a degreeof tapering of a side wall of a tooth according to various embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart describing an example use of the dental tool ofFIG. 1 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a dental instrument configured tomeasure a degree of tapering of a side wall of a tooth. Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 2, a dental instrument 100 configured to measure a degree oftapering of a side wall of a tooth is shown according to variousembodiments. The dental instrument 100 may include, for example, ahandle 103 and a taper measuring component 106 coupled to a distal endof the handle 103. The handle 103 may include metal, plastic, or othersuitable material, and may include a textured grip 109 that facilitatesholding the handle 103. In some embodiments, the handle 103 may includea universal tool handle known in the dental field, where the tapermeasuring component 106 may be detachably attached to the handle 103 byway of a coupler 112 in some embodiments.

In various embodiments, the coupler 112 may be conical (or“cone-shaped”) and may include a threaded aperture (not shown) thatallows a threaded portion (not shown) of a coupling member 115 of thetaper measuring component 106 to be rotated or screwed into the threadedaperture of the coupler 112. In other embodiments, the taper measuringcomponent 106 may be detachably attached to the handle 103 throughvarious other coupling connections, as may be appreciated. Further, inalternative embodiments, the taper measuring component 106 may becoupled to the handle in a fixed (and non-removable) state relative tothe handle 103.

By placement of the taper measuring component 106 adjacent to and/orparallel to a tooth, and by virtue of the shape and positioning of thevarious components thereof, the dental instrument 100 is configured tomeasure the degree of tapering of a side wall of the tooth, as will bediscussed. As noted above, the taper measuring component 106 may includethe coupling member 115 configured to detachably or permanently attachthe taper measuring component 106 to the handle 103 at a straight (180degree) angle, or at another angle suitable for placement adjacent to atooth. The coupling member 115 may also be referred to as a firstelongated member, which extends from and substantially parallel to abody of the handle 103. Further, the taper measuring component 106 mayinclude a second elongated member 118 coupled to a third elongatedmember 121. The second elongated member 118 may form a 90 degree angle,or other appropriate angle, with the first elongated member (i.e., thecoupling member 115).

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, an enhanced view of the tapermeasuring component 106 is shown. The taper measuring component 106 mayinclude, for example, a first bend 122 and a second bend 123 which mayform or otherwise define the first elongated member 115, the secondelongated member 118, and the third elongated member 121 from, forinstance, a single piece of metal, plastic, or other suitable material.As may be appreciated, the first bend 122 may be described as definingthe first elongated member 115 and the second elongated member 118,whereas the second bend 123 may define the second elongated member 118and the third elongated member 121.

In some embodiments, the second elongated member 118 may be sized andpositioned to be substantially vertical or substantially parallel to avertical axis of a tooth when a bottom surface 124, or the second bend123, of the taper measuring component 106 is placed on the finishingline of a tooth preparation or parallel to the tooth, as will bediscussed. In some embodiments, the width of the bottom surface 124 maybe less than 0.5 mm or as small as possible without forming asubstantially sharp tip. The third elongated member 121 may beconfigured to project radially from the second elongated member 118 at apredefined angle (θ). In some embodiments, the third elongated member121 may be shaped and positioned to rest substantially flush along theside wall of the prepared tooth in response to a degree of tapering ofthe tooth being substantially similar to the predefined angle (θ). Asubstantially similar angle may include one that is ±4 degrees forexample. The second elongated member 118 and/or the third elongatedmember 121 may have a length of approximately 12 mm to approximately 15mm in some embodiments, although other suitable lengths may be employed.

Further, in various embodiments, the third elongated member 121 mayinclude a measuring component 127 with a calibration starting from thebottom surface 124 (e.g., having metrics increasing upwards from thebottom surface 124). The measuring component 127 may include marksand/or metrics spaced consistent and predetermined distances from oneanother that facilitate measuring a height of a tooth or tooth wall. Tothis end, both the tapering of the tooth and the height of the tooth maybe measured in a single task using the dental instrument 100.

By virtue of the angles formed in the first bend 122 and the second bend123, the taper measuring component 106 may be substantially triangularshaped, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. While the third elongated member 121is shown as not being connected to a bottom of the coupling member 115,in other embodiments, the third elongated member 121 may have a lengthsuch that a distal end of the third elongated member 121 couples to abottom of the coupling member 115. The coupling member 115, the secondelongated member 118, and the third elongated member 121 of the tapermeasuring component 106 may be formed from a single part, such as asingle piece of metal, plastic, or other suitable material that may bebended, shaped, or otherwise formed to have a rigid shape and positionedsuited for measuring a taper of a tooth wall. In some embodiments, thecross-section of the taper measuring component 106 may be square,rectangular, circular, ovular, or other suitable shape.

Even further, in some embodiments, the handle 103 of the instrument mayinclude an indicator 130, such as a label or a color-coded band, that isindicative of the predefined angle (θ). For instance, the indicator 130may include a white band for a dental instrument 100 having a predefinedangle of eight degrees, a black band for a dental instrument 100 havinga predefined angle of twelve degrees, a red band for a dental instrument100 having a predefined angle of sixteen degrees, and so forth.Additionally, the indicator 130 may use other color coding ideal for theinstrument to be easily and quickly identified due to the visual colorof the indicator 103.

Turning now to FIG. 3, an example of a tooth 200 a having an acceptabledegree of tapering (e.g., eight degrees to twelve degrees) and anexample of a tooth 200 b having a marginally substandard degree oftapering (e.g., twelve degrees to sixteen degrees) is shown. Forinstance, a dentist or a dental student may be required to modify ashape of a tooth 200 for its original tooth shape 203 a . . . 203 b,also referred to as a dental crown, on the tooth 200. In theManikin-based dental examination for crown preparation, dental studentsare required to taper a tooth wall from nearly parallel to 12°. Thedental student can be subject to a failing grade if the taper of thetooth wall is grossly over-reduced, or reduced to over 16°.

Moving on to FIG. 4, a model of a tooth 200 is shown. The tooth 200 mayinclude a pair of side walls 206 a . . . 206 b, as may be appreciated,that must be tapered from its original tooth shape 203 to the tooth 200shown in FIG. 4. Gums 209 are also shown. The tapering, or the degree oftapering, is measured as an angle between an axis 215 substantiallyparallel to a vertical axis 212 of the tooth 200 and a side wall 206 ofthe tooth 200, denoted in FIG. 3 as theta (θ). FIG. 5 illustrates commontapering angles shown on a protector diagram 230 that can be measuredusing the dental instrument 100, such as six degrees, eight degrees,twelve degrees, sixteen degrees, seventeen degrees, etc. The training oftapering techniques is often subjective. For instance, dentists, dentalstudents, and other dental practitioners rely upon an “eyeballing” of acrown preparation rather than relying upon a definitive measure.

Moving on to FIG. 6, an example placement of the dental instrument 100relative to a tooth 200 is shown according to various embodiments. Forinstance, the bottom surface 124 of the taper measuring component 106may be placed on or near the gums 209 adjacent to a tooth 200 or, inother words, on the finishing line 218 of a tooth preparation, such thatthe second elongated member 118 is substantially parallel to a verticalaxis 212 of the tooth. The degree of tapering of the side wall 206 ofthe tooth 200 based at least in part on whether the third elongatedmember 121 rests substantially flush with a surface of the side wall 206of the tooth 200. For instance, if the third elongated member 121 doesnot rest substantially flush with a surface of the side wall 206 of thetooth 200, another instrument having a different predefined angle (θ)may be used, or a better eyeball test may be applied based on howclosing the tapering of the side wall 206 of the tooth 200 conforms tothe predefined angle (θ) of the taper measuring component 106.Alternatively, if the third elongated member 121 rests substantiallyflush along the side wall 206 of the tooth 200, it may be assumed thatthe tapering of the side wall 206 of the tooth 200 is equal orsubstantially similar to the predefined angle (θ) of the taper measuringcomponent 106.

To this end, the dental instrument 100 may be used to measure a degreeof tapering of a side wall 206 of a tooth 200 when practicing crownpreparation or when performing a crown preparation during a dental examon a model tooth. Alternatively, the dental instrument may be used inactual practice by a dentist, dental assistant, or other dentalpractitioner on a mammalian tooth.

Referring next to FIG. 7, shown is a flowchart 700 that provides anexample of operation or use of the dental instrument 100 according tovarious embodiments. It is understood that the flowchart of FIG. 7provides merely an example of the many different types of arrangementsthat may be employed to wear the incontinence pad 100 as describedherein.

Beginning with step 703, the dental instrument 100 adapted to measurethe degree of tapering of the side wall 206 of the tooth 200, asdiscussed herein, may be provided. For instance, the dental instrument100 may include a handle 103 and a taper measuring component 106, wherethe taper measuring component 106 includes a bottom surface 124 formedat a coupling point of a second elongated member 118 and a thirdelongated member 121. The taper measuring component 106 may furtherinclude the second elongated member 118, the second elongated member 118being configured to be substantially parallel to a vertical axis of thetooth 200 when the bottom surface 124 of the taper measuring component106 is placed on the finishing line 218 of the tooth preparation. Thetaper measuring component 106 may further include the third elongatedmember 121, where the third elongated member 121 projects radially fromthe second elongated member 118 at a predefined angle (θ).

Next, in step 706, an operator may position the taper measuringcomponent 106 of the dental instrument 100 adjacent to the tooth 200 oron the finishing line 218 of the tooth preparation using the handle 103.In some embodiments, the operator may position the bottom surface 124 ofthe taper measuring component 106 on the finishing line 218 of theprepared tooth (e.g., adjacent to the tooth 200).

In step 709, the operator may measure the degree of tapering of the sidewall 206 of the tooth 200 based at least in part on whether the thirdelongated member 121 rests substantially flush along the side wall 206of the tooth 200. For instance, if the third elongated member 121 doesnot rest substantially flush along the side wall 206 of the tooth 200,another instrument having a different predefined angle (θ) may be used,or a better eyeball test may be applied based on how closing thetapering of the side wall 206 of the tooth 200 conforms to thepredefined angle (θ) of the taper measuring component 106.Alternatively, if the third elongated member 121 rests substantiallyflush along the side wall 206 of the tooth 200 and the second elongatedmember 118 substantially parallel to the vertical axis 212 (alsoreferred to as the longitudinal axis) of the tooth 200, it may beassumed that the tapering of the side wall 206 of the tooth 200 is equalor substantially similar to the predefined angle (θ) of the tapermeasuring component 106.

Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,”unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with thecontext as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may beeither X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z).Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and shouldnot, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at leastone of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thepresent disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations setforth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure.Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-describedembodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit andprinciples of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations areintended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure andprotected by the following claims.

Therefore, the following is claimed:
 1. A dental instrument formeasuring a degree of tapering of a tooth, comprising: a handle; and ataper measuring component coupled to a distal end of the handle, thetaper measuring component comprising: a first bend defining a firstelongated member and a second elongated member, wherein the firstelongated member extends from and is parallel to a body of the handle; asecond bend defining the second elongated member and a third elongatedmember; a bottom surface defined by the second bend; wherein the secondelongated member is configured to be substantially vertical when thebottom surface of the taper measuring component is placed adjacent tothe tooth such that the second elongated member is substantiallyparallel to a vertical axis of a tooth; and wherein the third elongatedmember projects radially from the second elongated member at apredefined angle, the third elongated member being shaped and positionedto rest substantially flush along a side wall of the tooth in responseto a degree of tapering of the tooth being substantially similar to thepredefined angle.
 2. The dental instrument of claim 1, wherein the tapermeasuring component is detachably attached to the handle.
 3. The dentalinstrument of claim 1, wherein the predefined angle is one of: sixdegrees, eight degrees, twelve degrees, sixteen degrees, or seventeendegrees.
 4. The dental instrument of claim 1, wherein the handlecomprises an indicator indicative of the predefined angle at which thethird elongated member projects radially from the second elongatedmember.
 5. A dental instrument configured to be held by an operator tomeasure a degree of tapering of a tooth, wherein the dental instrumentcomprises: a handle; and a taper measuring component coupled to a distalend of the handle adapted to measure the degree of tapering of a sidewall of the tooth, the taper measuring component comprising: a firstelongated member extending from the handle; a second elongated member; athird elongated member; and a bottom surface formed at a coupling pointof the second elongated member and the third elongated member, wherein:the second elongated member is configured to be substantially parallelto a vertical axis of the tooth when the bottom surface of the tapermeasuring component is placed adjacent to the tooth; and the thirdelongated member projects radially from the second elongated member at apredefined angle, the third elongated member being shaped and positionedto rest substantially flush along a surface of the side wall of thetooth in response to a degree of tapering of the tooth beingsubstantially similar to the predefined angle.
 6. The dental instrumentof claim 5, wherein the second elongated members has a length between 12mm and 15 mm and the third elongated member has a length between 12 mmand 15 mm.
 7. The dental instrument of claim 5, wherein the predefinedangle is one of: six degrees, eight degrees, twelve degrees, sixteendegrees, or seventeen degrees.
 8. The dental instrument of claim 5,wherein the tooth is a model tooth or a mammalian tooth.
 9. The dentalinstrument of claim 5, wherein the handle comprises an indicatorindicative of the predefined angle.
 10. The dental instrument of claim9, wherein the indicator is color coded.
 11. The dental instrument ofclaim 5, wherein at least one side of the third elongated membercomprises a measuring component that provides a height of the toothwall.
 12. A method for measuring a degree of tapering of a tooth,comprising: providing a dental instrument adapted to measure the degreeof tapering of a side wall of the tooth, the dental instrumentcomprising: a handle; and a taper measuring component comprising: afirst elongated member; a bottom surface formed at a coupling point of asecond elongated member and a third elongated member; the secondelongated member being configured to be substantially vertical when thebottom surface of the taper measuring component is placed adjacent tothe tooth; and the third elongated member projecting radially from thefirst elongated member at a predefined angle; positioning the tapermeasuring component on a finishing line of a tooth preparation; andmeasuring the degree of tapering of the side wall of the tooth based atleast in part on whether the third elongated member rests substantiallyflush along the side wall of the tooth.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising detaching or attaching the taper measuring componentto the handle.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the predefined angleis one of: six degrees, eight degrees, twelve degrees, sixteen degrees,or seventeen degrees.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the handlecomprises an indicator indicative of the predefined angle at which thethird elongated member projects radially from the second elongatedmember.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the second elongated membershas a length between 12 mm and 15 mm and the third elongated member hasa length between 12 mm and 15 mm.
 17. The method of claim 12, whereinthe tooth is a model tooth or a mammalian tooth.